In Defense of Greta Van Fleet.
The 21st Century most hated and loved rock and roll band.
The EP “From The Fires” put Greta Van Fleet on the spotlight of one of the most prominent rock and roll group of last year. Their LP debut “Anthem Of The Peaceful Army” has been mixed criticized by the mainstream media as 1.6 Pitchfork rating.
The quartet from Frankenmuth, Michigan, are often labeled as Led Zeppelin plagiarism (funny isn’t?) and people do not realize the main point which is a young group ascending in the rough phonographic industry made of electronic, pop and rap music.
It doesn’t matter that Josh Kiszka sounds like Robert Plant. The Murlocs are like 100% of psychedelic bands from the ’60s. The Strypes’ debut “Snapshot” is a picture of The Yardbirds and others British Invaders. I thought John Lennon was alive the first that I listened to Kevin Parker’s project Tame Impala.
So, the plagiarism argument is not the real problem here, because there are several artists influenced by their heroes. Greta Van Fleet is not one of my favorite of all the time, but I respect their contribution as I recognize the importance of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple for the music history (Note: I don’t like those bands). It’s all right do not like the songs, and this is a better argument than the plagiarism accusation.
Although old references, Greta Van Fleet brought new oxygen to rock and roll music on the first second of the southern ballad “Black Smoke Rising” and the powerful “Highway Tune” Kizska’s yell. I’m sure they are proud of the baby boomers generation that has been forgotten all over the decades, but thanks to the internet and new bands as Greta Van Fleet that energy are back again.
Nowadays, we don’t often see a new and talented rock and roll group at the festivals main stages around the world. Greta Van Fleet is relieving the good old days of the southern and hard rock that became unpopular with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin decline. The Kiszka brothers are representing the future as it would be.
